, 1887-06-08
ANTIGUA NEWS.
lFrom the Obseruer, 26tA Mau.l

The drought of the last two months seems
at last to have terminated, genial showers
having fallen within the week ell over the
island, refreshing vegetation generally, and
enabling planters and the labouring class of,
small agriculturists to put in their accustom-
ed crops of yams and other provisions usual
at this time of the year. The weather is still
very sultry, the thermometer to-day register
ing So degrees, and there are indications Of
more rain. The dry weather favored the
reaping of the crop, and this operation is
more than usually advanced for the early
season, it being stimated that, taking all
the estates together, three fourths of the
canes have been already ground, OF course
the vino mills, not having been favoured with
good breezes all along have not done SO much,
but the bulk OF our estates have now steam
power, and these have succeeded in getting
off such canes as are intended to ration for
next crop, leaving only fields of second or
third ratoons standing, there being no great
hurry to dispose of these, the land not yet
being wanted for the plough, while, should
the rains cease, the stock will be grateful for
the green and succulent fodder later on. A
considerable quantity of sugar is still in the
store houses, the price offered being very low,
and planters being disposed to hold on as long
as practicable for some advance. In con-
nexion with this we are glad to see that a
slight rise in quotations is at length reported
from New York, although only S1.65 is up
to now obtainable from our shipping Mer-
chants, with 10 cts. for Molasses. Under
the circumstances we learn that certain ad-
venturous planters are shipping to the Anne
rican markets on their own account. But
few shipments have been made this year from
hence, or indeed, as we observe from the
papers, from any of the neighbouring British
Colonies, for the United Kingdom, and this
may account for the low quotations of Mus
covado in the British Markets, only inferior
stuffs being on sale there.
His Excellency the Governor is still at st.
Kits, and it is reported that he will not be
back for a week or two yet. The Colonial
Secretary and Attorney General are also
both away in attendance on His Excellency.
The Rainfall for the month to date at the
Public Library is 3.75 ms, for the year 11.53.
Some Of the country records shew more mois-
ture.
The shipments of Produce to date are:
Sugar 5,62T hhds, 543 ties, 1864 brls. and
6,427 bags. Molesses 1880 puns.
The Queens Birthday was kept up on
Tuesday the Oath, by the firing of the usual
salute in the pasture by the Artillery, with
q feu.dejoie by the Police. Til latter per-
Torrance was in reality, cery independent file
firing and apparently some Of the guns did
not go off at oil. Perhaps they were not
loadedi
Apleasant way of celebrating the day sug,
gested itself to the Committee of the Country
Lawn Tennis Club, who selected the Oath
for the playing off of the finals of a Ladies
Tournament that has been going on for some
time.
Invitations were issued to all the world and
his wife, and o more pleasant gathering OF
the kind we have never seen. About 4
p. M. on Tuesday, there might be seen in